For The Child to Host Children’s Book Drive at First Fridays

For The Child is thrilled to accept new children’s book donations at Bixby Knolls First Fridays event Today, June 6 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. near the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association offices (4313 Atlantic Ave.). The books will support one of For The Child’s services to the community–“Kids’ Place.” The Kids’ Place childcare centers are located in nine Los Angeles County Superior Courthouses including the George Deukmejian Courthouse in Downtown Long Beach. The first was opened in Long Beach in 2002 by For The Child to keep children out of adult proceedings they are too young to understand and could find traumatizing. The Long Beach Courthouse has 6,000 child visits each year. For The Child reports that their greatest need is for books written for 4-8 year olds, (picture books, early readers, early chapter books) in English or bilingual English/Spanish.

Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert is also spearheading a collection within City Hall and the Long Beach Court itself is running an internal book drive from June 6 through June 20th.

Families and people in crisis are in the courts every day with their small children in tow. Kids’ Place provides a safe and fun haven for children 0-13 while their parents tend to their business within the court. Kids’ Place has always had a literacy emphasis.

“Each child leaves “Kids’ Place” with a new book on their first visit,” said Isabel Pasillas, Kids’ Place Director, “to encourage children reading and parents reading to their children. Accommodating almost 25,000 annual visits to the nine “Kids’ Place” means that we need at least 12,500 books each year for first time visitors.”

For The Child reports that their greatest need is for books written for 4-8 year olds, (picture books, early readers, early chapter books) in English or bilingual English/Spanish.

“We are also encouraging community groups to help this endeavor by collecting books in their own organizations to donate, or to collect funds to be donated toward this,” Pasillas added. “We have received the generous support from the Rotary Club of Long Beach, Lion’s Club, Molina Foundation’s Book Buddies program and others. This is an ongoing need for us with plans to open a Kids’ Place location at the Norwalk Courthouse in June.”

After First Fridays, books can be delivered directly to For The Child’s Bixby Knolls location (4565 California Ave.) or Apostrophe Books (5229 2nd St.) in Belmont Shore.

Since 1974 For The Child has been strengthening families and making a difference in the lives of children who have faced abuse or neglect. At the heart of all of For The Child’s programs are stressed families, children at risk, child victims of abuse and neglect, and the families and community members that care for them. Safeguarding these children and working with children and families to provide the tools (and hope!) to heal and to lead safe, happy, and productive lives direct our program development and delivery. The array of existing services is designed to reduce trauma, strengthen family resilience, develop healthy, behaviors and build supportive community connections.

If you are interested in coordinating a Kids’ Place Book Drive of your own, contact Shannon Chamberlain at SChamberlain@ForTheChild.org or (562) 422-8472

For The Child’s Mission

For The Child believes that children should be treated with respect and protected from abuse. The nonprofit 501c3 For The Child meets this challenge by providing both comprehensive child abuse treatment and family-focused mental health care, counseling, and therapy to strengthen families and provide the tools of healing to children.

For The Child’s Vision
All children will have the opportunity to reach their natural potential free from abuse or neglect. Children will be nurtured and cared for in loving families, they will be safe in their homes, their schools and their neighborhoods.